London SHA

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been allocated from the budget of each London primary care trust to the London Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2005.

Ivan Lewis: The table shows primary care trust (PCT) topslice to NHS London at quarter two, 2006-07. From 2006-07 we have abolished planned support and given strategic health authorities (SHAs) the ability to generate reserves from top slicing their PCT allocations. This topslicing did not occur in 2005-06.
	
		
			  Organisation name  PCT topslice (£000) 
			 Havering Primary Care Trust 9,352 
			 Kingston Primary Care Trust 5,924 
			 Bromley Primary Care Trust 10,952 
			 Greenwich Teaching Primary Care Trust 11,235 
			 Barnet Primary Care Trust 12,816 
			 Hillingdon Primary Care Trust 9,048 
			 Enfield Primary Care Trust 10,294 
			 Barking and Dagenham Primary Care Trust 6,345 
			 City and Hackney Teaching Primary Care Trust 14,840 
			 Tower Hamlets Primary Care Trust 12,268 
			 Newham Primary Care Trust 11,376 
			 Haringey Primary Care Trust 10,176 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham Primary Care Trust 8,018 
			 Ealing Primary Care Trust 13,068 
			 Hounslow Primary Care Trust 8,763 
			 Brent Teaching Primary Care Trust 11,981 
			 Harrow Primary Care Trust 7,506 
			 Camden Primary Care Trust 11,438 
			 Islington Primary Care Trust 9,932 
			 Croydon Primary Care Trust 12,462 
			 Kensington and Chelsea Primary Care Trust 8,084 
			 Westminster Primary Care Trust 10,783 
			 Lambeth Primary Care Trust 13,755 
			 Southwark Primary Care Trust 11,819 
			 Lewisham Primary Care Trust 11,719 
			 Wandsworth Primary Care Trust 11,376 
			 Richmond and Twickenham Primary Care Trust 6,629 
			 Sutton and Merton Primary Care Trust 13,553 
			 Redbridge Primary Care Trust 9,114 
			 Waltham Forest Primary Care Trust 9,398 
			 Bexley Care Primary Care Trust 7,552 
			  Source: Financial monitoring returns quarter two, 2006-07.

Royal Mail

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department spent using Royal Mail in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: The Department spent the following amounts using Royal Mail in each of the last fiveyears:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2001-02 491,108 
			 2002-03 479,751 
			 2003-04 344,915 
			 2004-05 356,959 
			 2005-06 252,278

Parliamentary Questions

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to reply to question 116965, on Tanzania, tabled by the hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield for answer on 19 January.

Tony Blair: I replied to the hon. Member on 19 January 2007. I understand that because ofa printing error my answer did not appear in the  Official Report for that day, although it has now done so.

EU and NATO Missions

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was to the UK of  (a) EU military operations and  (b) NATO military operations in each year between 2003 and 2006.

Des Browne: The cost of UK contributions to EU and NATO operations are not borne by the Defence budget. Costs are charged either against the HM Treasury Reserve or the conflict prevention pools.
	The MOD records centrally costs of regional operations as a whole and does not apportion operational cost to the specific command authority at the time. Consequently, it is not possible to distinguish between the EU and NATO costs in all cases
	
		
			   Total cost (£ million)  Notes 
			  Afghanistan   
			 2003-2004 46 NATO led operation 
			 2004-2005 67 NATO led operation 
			 2005-2006 199 NATO led operation 
			
			  The Balkans   
			 2003-2004 103 NATO led operations 
			 2004-2005 87 EU(1)/NATO 
			 2005-2006 63 EU/NATO 
			
			  DR Congo   
			 2003-2004 1 EU led(2) 
			 2006-2007 Negligible(3) EU 
			
			  Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)   
			 2003-2004 1 EU(4) 
			 (1 )FOR ALTHEA (Bosnia and Herzegovina) commenced 12 December 2004.  (2) Operation ARTEMIS: June to September 2003.  (3) Operation EUFOR RD Congo: April to November 2006.The UK contribution to this operation consisted of one staff officer in Potsdam and one officer in Kinshasa—hence the operational cost to the UK was negligible  (4) Operation CONCORDIA: March to December 2003

Recruitment

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many recruits joined the armed forces in  (a) 2005 and  (b) 2006.

Adam Ingram: In 2005, intake from civilian life to the UK regular forces was 17,560(1).
	Between 1 January and 30 November 2006, intake from Civilian Life to the UK regular forces was 19,250(2).
	The number of recruits joining the armed forces can be found in Tri-Service Publication (TSP) 1—"Strength, Intake and Outflow of UK Regular Forces". TSP 1 is published monthly. The most recent publication shows figures for the 12 months to 1 December 2006 andcan be found at http://www.dasa.mod.uk/natstats/tspl/gender.html. Copies of TSP 1 are also available in the Library of the House.
	(1) Revised. Army officer inflow figures were revised in the 1 June 2006 TSP 1 publication.
	(2) Provisional. Due to the introduction of a new personnel administration system for RAF and Naval Service, data are provisional and subject to review.

Royal Navy: Expenditure

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's total expenditure was on the Royal Navy in each year since 1990; whatthe projected spend is on the Royal Navy in each of the next 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Defence spending is not broken down by service. Instead, the MOD operates a system of delegated authority to top level budget (TLB) holders. Some are single service but several, for example, Defence Estates and the Chief of Joint Operations support all three services and their budgets are not broken down by service.
	Information about spending by TLBs can be found in the Government's expenditure plans (GEP) 2006-07 to 2007-08, Ministry of Defence (Cmd 6822), as well as in the Ministry of Defence's 2005-06 annual report and accounts. This includes the fleet top level budget, which covers the main operating and personnel costs of the Royal Navy.
	Spending plans for future years are being reviewed in the current departmental planning round, and will also be shaped by the outcome of the comprehensive spending review, which will set the defence budget from 2008-09 to 2010-11.
	The Royal Navy will continue to be funded across a broad spectrum of capabilities that will enable the fleet to meet its operational and standing commitments.

Service Personnel Injuries

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel injured in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan have (i) lost both legs and both arms, (ii) lost both legs at or above the knee, (iii) lost both legs below the knee, (iv) lost one leg at or above the knee, (v) lost one leg below the knee, (vi) lost both arms at or above the elbow, (vii) lost both arms below the elbow, (viii) lost one arm at or above the elbow, (ix) lost one arm below the elbow, (x) received deep second degree or third degree burns to more than 70 per cent. of the body, (xi) been blinded in both eyes and (xii) been made deaf.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 22 January 2007
	Information on casualties sustained in Iraq and Afghanistan is recorded in terms of clinical severity, so as to aid medical staff in providing the appropriate levels of care at each stage of treatment and in planning for future operations. Casualties are recorded as Very Seriously Injured (VSI), Seriously Injured (SI) or Un-Listed (UL).
	Information on the number of military personnel who have lost limbs due to combat, have received serious burns, or had sensory deprivation is not recorded. To find this number would require the examination of the individual medical records of each patient who has been classified as VSI or SI in Iraq and Afghanistan. These records can only be viewed for non-clinical reasons with the express consent of the individual concerned, to protect patient confidentiality.
	The Ministry of Defence publishes data on battle and non-battle casualties that have resulted from our operations in Iraq from March 2003 and Afghanistan since January 2006. The best centrally available casualty statistics can be found on the Ministry of Defence website at:
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/FactSheets/Operations Factsheets
	Between March 2003 and 31 December 2005, 40 UK military and civilian personnel were categorised by the Notification of Casualty (NOTICAS) system as VSI from all causes and 70 personnel have been categorised as SI from all causes in Iraq. These figures will include those who lost limbs due to combat, but also include other VSIs and Sis sustained as a result of combat and non-combat injuries.
	Between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2006,11 UK personnel were categorised as VSI and 19 asSI from all causes excluding disease. As aforementioned, these figures will include those who lost limbs due to combat, but also include other VSI and SIs from combat and non-combat causes.
	Between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2006,17 UK personnel were categorised as VSI and 13as SI from all causes excluding disease. As aforementioned, these figures will include those who lost limbs due to combat, but also include other VSI and SIs from combat and non-combat causes.
	Those classified as VSI have sustained illness or injury of such severity that life or reason is imminently endangered. SI covers those who's condition is of such severity that there is cause for immediate concern, but there is no imminent danger to life or reason.
	It is likely that those who received deep second or third degree burns to 70 per cent. of the body would be included in either the VSI or SI figures, but this would depend on the severity of their injury. It is not possible to say whether all those blinded in both eyes or made deaf would be included.

Disability Facilities Grant

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has  (a) to make the Disability Facilities Grant more flexible and  (b) to reduce the operation of the ring fence in relation to the grant.

Yvette Cooper: The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) consultation paper published on 18 January 2007 contains two proposals to make the DFG funding more flexible, by widening the ring fence or by removing the ring fence around the funding.
	In 2007-08 we will run a small trial widening the ring fence for some authorities. Following an evaluationof the responses to the consultation and the new procedures operating in the pilot areas, a decision about which option to use for national roll-out will be made.

Firefighting

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the  (a) typical or average hourly call handling capacity and  (b) maximum hourly call handling capacity is expected to be of each of the regional control centres proposed under the FiReControl project.

Angela Smith: The regional control centres are designed to meet or exceed the current Chief Fire Officer's Association (CFOA) performance targets for call handling. These are:
	85 per cent. of calls answered within 7 seconds;
	95 per cent. of calls answered within 10 seconds;
	98 per cent. of calls answered within 20 seconds.
	The capacity of each RCC depends on the number of staff and the shift pattern at any given time. Based on the current indicative staffing numbers and shift patterns, the call handling capacity of each RCC is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Call capacity of regional control centres 
			   08:00-16:00  16:00-20:00  20:00-23:00  23:00-08:00  24 hours  Annual 
			  London   
			 Hourly 240 300 210 150 — — 
			 Period total 1,920 1,200 630 1,350 5,100 1938150 
			
			  South East   
			 Hourly 150 195 150 105 — — 
			 Period total 1,200 780 450 945 3,375 1,286,625 
			
			  South West   
			 Hourly 135 165 135 105 — — 
			 Period total 1,080 660 405 945 6,090 1,127,850 
			
			  East of England   
			 Hourly 135 165 135 105 — — 
			 Period total 1,080 660 405 945 3,090 1,127,850 
			
			  East Midlands   
			 Hourly 135 165 135 105 — — 
			 Period total 1,080 660 405 945 3,090 1,127,850 
			
			  West Midlands   
			 Hourly 150 195 165 120 — — 
			 Period total 1,200 780 495 1,080 3,555 1,297,575 
			
			  Yorks and Humber   
			 Hourly 150 195 165 120 — — 
			 Period total 1,200 780 495 1,080 3,555 1,97,575 
			
			  North East   
			 Hourly 120 150 135 105 — — 
			 Period total 960 600 405 945 2,910 1,062,150 
			
			  North West   
			 Hourly 225 285 195 135 — — 
			 Period total 1,800 1,140 585 1,215 4,740 1,730,100 
			
			  Network   
			 Hourly 1,440 1,815 1,425 1,050 — — 
			 Period total 11,520 7,260 4,275 9,450 32,505 11,864,325 
			  Notes: 1. These figures do not represent the projected requirement. 2. Assumes that a person working a 12 hour shift has the capacity to answer calls for nine of 12 hours. 3. Assumes an average call handling time of three minutes per call (taking account of all call types—emergency, administrative and additional assistance calls).

Milton Keynes Tariff

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  whether planning gain supplement will be introduced in parallel to the Milton Keynes tariff in Milton Keynes;
	(2)  when she expects the planning gain supplement to replace the Milton Keynes tariff.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government announced at the 2006 pre-Budget report that a workable and effective PGS would not be introduced earlier than 2009. Further announcements on PGS will be made after the current consultationis completed. The Government are considering the interaction of PGS with existing tariff schemes.

Christmas Cards

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff hours were spent on preparation of departmental Christmas cards in 2005; how many departmental staff have responsibility for preparing Christmas cards in 2006; what the cost of postage was for official departmental Christmas cards in  (a) 2004 and  (b) 2005; what the cost was of purchasing official departmental Christmas cards in each such year; and how many official Christmas cards were sent out by his Department in each year.

John Healey: Preparing Christmas cards accounts for only a very small proportion of the time of any Treasury official. For information on Treasury Christmas cards in 2004 and 2005, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hammersmith and Fulham (Mr. Hands) on 31 January 2006,  Official Report, column 398W, and the answer the former Financial Secretary (Mr. Timms) gave to the right hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden (David Davis) on20 December 2004,  Official Report, column 1403W.

Gender Equality

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to raise awarenessof the gender equality duty across his Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

John Healey: Work is under way in the Treasury to ensure the requirements of the forthcoming duty on gender equality are met. The Treasury has in place, and is implementing, a plan to enhance diversity in the Department. As part of this, an internal equalities seminar has been organised and will take place in February 2007. The seminar will raise awareness about all the equality duties and be addressed by speakers from the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Disability Rights Commission and the Commission for Racial Equality.
	Treasury officials are also in contact with the non-departmental public bodies and Executive agencies for which the Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible to ensure they are taking the necessary steps to meet the requirements of the forthcoming duty on public bodies and raise awareness. All have confirmed that this work is under way.

Gross Value Added

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the change was in gross value added (GVA) per capita in each region and county in each year since 1990; and what the trend growth was of GVA per capita in each region and county between 1990 and 2002.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 2 February 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question about gross value added (GVA) per capita in each region and county in each year since 1990; and what the trend growth was of GVA per capita in each region and county between 1990 and 2002. I am replying in her absence. (116688)
	The Office for National Statistics publishes regional GVA using official statistical geographies known as Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics (NUTS)(1). The NUTS classification does not fully correspond to counties of the United Kingdom. Table 1 shows annual percentage changes in GVA per capita for each NUTS1 (regions and countries) of the UK; Table 2 shows annual percentage changes in GVA per capita for each NUTS2 (groups of counties and unitary authorities) area. Consistent estimates below the NUTS1 level are only available from 1995 onwards. These estimates are expressed at current basic prices, and do not allow for changes in prices over time (inflation) or differences in regional price levels (purchasing power). They do not, therefore, show growth in real or volume terms. ONS does not currently publish such estimates, but they are being developed for NUTS 1 regions as part of the Allsopp programme.
	Table 3 shows average growth, at current prices, for each NUTS1 region for the period 1990-2002. Table 4 shows average growth, at current prices, for each NUTS2 area for the period 1995-2002.
	(1) The Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics (NUTS) provides a single uniform breakdown for the production of regional statistics for the European Union. There are three levels of NUTS in the UK. These are:
	NUTS1: Government Office Regions and Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
	NUTS2: 37 areas—individual and groups of counties and unitary authorities.
	NUTS3: 133 areas—generally groups of unitary authorities or districts, also known as local areas.
	The full range of published regional GVA estimates are available on the ONS website:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Productasp?vlnk=14650
	
		
			  Table 1: NUTS 1 gross value added( 1)  per capita annual change 
			  Percentage 
			  GVA per head annual change  1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997 
			 United Kingdom 8.4 4.1 4.1 4.9 5.4 5.0 6.2 5.4 
			 North East 8.0 5.0 4.6 4.1 4.7 4.5 4.3 4.3 
			 North West 8.3 3.7 4.2 4.6 5.3 4.7 5.0 5.1 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 8.0 4.3 3.5 3.9 5.1 5.6 6.0 5.6 
			 East Midlands 7.5 4.0 3.7 4.0 5.6 5.2 5.7 5.5 
			 West Midlands 8.3 3.5 4.2 5.0 6.2 5.4 5.4 6.0 
			 East of England 8.4 3.7 4.3 4.9 5.6 5.0 5.5 5.2 
			 London 8.4 3.9 4.2 5.2 4.4 3.5 6.5 7.2 
			 South East 8.6 5.0 4.6 5.5 5.7 5.1 6.3 6.7 
			 South West 8.4 4.3 3.5 5.0 5.1 5.1 7.0 5.8 
			 Wales 7.6 3.1 4.2 4.4 5.4 5.4 4.3 4.0 
			 Scotland 9.1 5.9 4.7 4.5 5.3 4.8 4.8 4.7 
			 Northern Ireland 9.4 6.3 5.5 6.7 5.7 6.6 6.5 5.2 
		
	
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  GVA per head annual change  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 United Kingdom 5.7 4.5 4.7 4.6 5.0 5.5 5.5 3.4 
			 North East 4.4 3.3 3.5 5.0 4.7 5.5 5.9 3.9 
			 North West 5.4 4.3 3.5 4.9 4.5 5.1 5.4 3.4 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 5.2 3.3 3.5 4.8 5.1 5.6 5.1 3.2 
			 East Midlands 4.7 3.1 3.3 5.2 5.0 6.4 6.0 3.7 
			 West Midlands 5.4 3.7 3.7 4.4 4.0 4.9 5.2 3.2 
			 East of England 5.9 3.9 3.7 5.1 5.3 6.1 6.0 3.0 
			 London 8.1 5.1 3.5 3.8 6.3 6.1 5.8 3.1 
			 South East 8.1 5.5 4.7 5.5 5.2 5.3 5.1 2.6 
			 South West 5.9 4.3 3.9 5.4 5.5 6.0 5.7 3.4 
			 Wales 3.8 3.0 3.5 5.1 4.3 5.5 5.4 3.7 
			 Scotland 4.0 3.2 3.4 4.3 5.7 5.9 5.5 3.7 
			 Northern Ireland 5.8 5.3 4.1 4.6 3.9 5.7 5.6 3.0 
			 (1) GVA at current basic prices. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: NUTS 2 gross value added( 1)  per capita annual change 
			  Percentage 
			  GVA per head annual change  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004 
			 Tees Valley and Durham 3.5 3.3 3.0 2.4 2.0 3.0 2.9 4.8 5.9 
			 Northumberland and Tyne and Wear 5.0 5.2 5.5 4.0 4.6 6.4 6.0 6.1 5.9 
			 Cumbria 3.6 2.0 1.6 0.5 0.2 3.0 4.5 6.1 5.5 
			 Cheshire 5.2 5.8 5.1 4.3 3.1 4.5 4.0 3.7 4.5 
			 Greater Manchester 5.4 6.0 6.4 4.9 3.7 4.9 4.4 5.4 5.8 
			 Lancashire 3.9 3.2 4.1 4.2 3.9 5.2 4.1 4.6 5.2 
			 Merseyside 5.7 5.9 6.5 4.7 4.2 5.6 5.8 5.8 5.5 
			 East Riding and North Lincolnshire 5.5 3.4 1.7 0.1 2.5 4.8 5.4 5.5 5.0 
			 North Yorkshire 6.0 4.7 4.6 3.2 4.1 5.4 5.8 6.0 5.2 
			 South Yorkshire 6.3 6.2 6.2 3.4 3.9 5.2 5.8 6.1 5.6 
			 West Yorkshire 6.1 6.4 6.3 4.5 3.5 4.3 4.4 5.2 4.9 
			 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire 5.6 5.6 4.4 3.6 3.9 5.6 4.8 6.1 6.0 
			 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire 6.4 6.5 6.3 3.3 2.8 4.3 4.9 6.7 6.4 
			 Lincolnshire 4.3 2.0 1.0 0.7 2.6 6.7 6.2 6.4 4.8 
			 Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire 5.1 5.2 6.2 5.4 4.4 4.2 3.0 4.4 4.9 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 5.9 5.4 4.6 2.2 2.6 3.6 5.2 5.7 5.8 
			 West Midlands 5.3 6.6 5.4 3.7 4.0 4.9 3.9 4.7 5.1 
			 East Anglia 4.2 3.1 4.0 2.9 3.3 5.8 5.9 6.2 5.8 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 6.7 7.4 8.6 5.2 4.6 4.6 4.0 5.1 5.8 
			 Essex 5.9 5.5 5.4 3.5 2.9 5.0 6.2 7.4 6.6 
			 Inner London 7.0 7.4 8.0 5.0 3.2 4.4 8.1 6.7 5.8 
			 Outer London 5.7 6.8 8.0 4.6 3.2 2.2 2.8 4.9 5.3 
			 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire 6.6 8.2 11.4 7.4 5.2 5.1 5.0 5.8 5.8 
			 Surrey, East and West Sussex 6.8 6.1 6.7 5.2 5.4 6.5 5.3 4.6 4.4 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 6.1 6.6 6.9 3.8 3.9 5.3 5.5 5.4 5.3 
			 Kent 5.1 4.9 5.7 4.1 3.3 4.7 5.2 5.4 5.0 
			 Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and North Somerset 8.1 7.2 7.2 4.0. 3.9 5.6 6.7 6.6 6.1 
			 Dorset and Somerset 6.1 5.4 6.4 5.9 4.0 4.0 3.6 4.7 5.3 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 6.5 4.1 4.5 4.8 5.8 7.4 6.5 6.8 5.9 
			 Devon 5.1 3.0 2.1 3.2 3.2 5.6 4.1 5.5 4.7 
			 West Wales and the Valleys 4.1 2.8 2.2 1.5 2.9 4.5 4.4 5.3 5.4 
			 East Wales 4.5 5.4 5.7 4.8 4.1 5.9 4.2 5.6 5.4 
			 North Eastern Scotland 4.4 4.9 4.6 2.6 4.3 3.9 3.4 3.6 4.6 
			 Eastern Scotland 4.8 4.2 3.4 2.4 2.4 4.0 6.7 6.4 5.4 
			 South Western Scotland 5.2 5.4 4.5 4.0 3.9 4.8 5.6 6.1 5.8 
			 Highlands and Islands 2.6 2.8 3.8 4.4 4.5 4.9 6.1 7.1 5.6 
			 Northern Ireland 5.8 5.8 6.1 4.3 3.8 4.8 5.2 5.7 5.5 
			 (1) GVA at current basic prices. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Average gross value added( 1)  growth per capita for NUTS1 regions, 1990-2002 
			  Average GVA growth per capita 1990-2002  Percentage 
			 United Kingdom 5.0 
			 North East 4.4 
			 North West 4.6 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 4.7 
			 East Midlands 4.6 
			 West Midlands 4.7 
			 East of England 4.8 
			 London 5.1 
			 South East 5.7 
			 South West 5.1 
			 Wales 4.2 
			 Scotland 4.6 
			 Northern Ireland 5.5 
			 (1) GVA at current basic prices. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 4: Average gross value added( 1)  growth per capita for NUTS2 regions, 1995-2002 
			  Average GVA growth per capita 1995-2002  Percentage 
			 Tees Valley and Durham 2.9 
			 Northumberland and Tyne and Wear 5.3 
			 Cumbria 2.2 
			 Cheshire 4.6 
			 Greater Manchester 5.1 
			 Lancashire 4.1 
			 Merseyside 5.5 
			 East Riding and North Lincolnshire 3.3 
			 North Yorkshire 4.8 
			 South Yorkshire 5.3 
			 West Yorkshire 5.1 
			 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire 4.8 
			 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire 4.9 
			 Lincolnshire 3.3 
			 Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire 4.8 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 4.2 
			 West Midlands 4.8 
			 East Anglia 4.2 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 5.9 
			 Essex 4.9 
			 Inner London 6.1 
			 Outer London 4.7 
			 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire 7.0 
			 Surrey, East and West Sussex 6.0 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 5.4 
			 Kent 4.7 
			 Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and North Somerset 6.1 
			 Dorset and Somerset 5.0 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 5.7 
			 Devon 3.8 
			 West Wales and the Valleys 3.2 
			 East Wales 4.9 
			 North Eastern Scotland 4.0 
			 Eastern Scotland 4.0 
			 South Western Scotland 4.8 
			 Highlands and Islands 4.2 
			 Northern Ireland 5.1 
			 (1) GVA at current basic prices.

Hospital Births

Jamie Reed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many births there were in 2005-06 at  (a) the West Cumberland hospital, Whitehaven and  (b) the Cumberland infirmary, Carlisle.

John Healey: pursuant to the reply, 15 January 2007, Official Report, c. 844W
	There was an error in the table given in the letter from the National Statistician and Registrar General which accompanied my written answer. A corrected version of the table is contained in the accompanying letter. The National Statistician and I very much regret this inadvertent error.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 2 February 2007:
	It has been brought to my attention that the figures in the table that appeared with the answer to your question (114638) on births in 2005 at West Cumberland hospital, Whitehaven and the Cumberland infirmary, Carlisle, were accidentally transposed.
	In the table, the number of live births in West Cumberland hospital, Whitehaven in 2005 should have been 1,261 and stillbirths 8. The number of live births in The Cumberland infirmary, Carlisle, in 2005 should have been 1,624 and stillbirths 11. The correct version of the table is attached below. I apologise for any inconvenience caused.
	
		
			  Live births and stillbirths occurring in West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven and the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle in 2005 
			  Year 2005  Live births  Stillbirths 
			 West Cumberland hospital, Whitehaven 1,261 8 
			 The Cumberland infirmary, Carlisle 1,624 11

Inflation Figures

John Spellar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's estimate is of the rate of  (a) household inflation,  (b) single pensioner household inflation and  (c) pensioner household inflation.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 2 February 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for an estimate of the rate of (a) household inflation, (b) single pensioner household inflation and (c) pensioner household inflation. (116944)
	Retail Prices Index (RPI) is defined as an average measure of change in the prices of goods and services bought for the purpose of consumption by the vast majority of households in the UK. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has recently published the RPI for December 2006 as 202.7, giving a percentage change over 12 months of 4.4%.
	The weights for the RPI explicitly exclude data on households where the head of the household is retired (at least 65 years of age for men and 60 years or more for women) and economically inactive, and where at least three quarters of the household's income is from state benefits. Although no general "pensioner household" index exists, separate indices are producedfor one-pensioner and for two-pensioner households whose expenditure is excluded from the RPI weights, i.e. those who rely on state pensions and benefit for at least 75% of their income. This roughly relates to around 20% of all pensioners (there are very few private households consisting solely of three or more pensioners): These indices use the same price data as the RPI and are only published for quarters, rather than months. They make no allowance for the fact that pensioners may shop in different outlets and therefore experience different prices.
	The one-person pensioner households index for the fourth quarter of 2006 stands at 176.6, a change of 5.7% over 12 months.
	The two-person pensioner households index for the fourth quarter of 2006 stands at 179.2, a change of 4.4% over 12 months.
	The corresponding value for the RPI for the fourth quarter of 2006, stands at 201.4, a change of 4.0% over 12 months.
	The main differences from the RPI in the construction of the pensioner indices are as follows:
	section weights are derived from information on expenditure by one-pensioner and two-pensioner households respectively;
	canteen meals (including state school meals) and all housing sections are excluded;
	Other items are also excluded, including NHS prescription, dental and eyesight test charges which are not paid by pensioners. For rail and bus fares, special pensioners' rail and bus fare indices are substituted for the normal index household indices to allow for fare concessions available in some areas.
	The exclusion of housing sections was made on the grounds that the price indicators used in the all items RPI would not be appropriate and would overstate the price increases experienced by these pensioners as they would mostly be cushioned against some rises by rebates. Also, it would be technically difficult to compile separate house price indicator items for these households.

Third Sector Advisory Panel

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what position Maeve Sherlock holds in his Department; and what remuneration she receives;
	(2)  who the members are of his Department's Third Sector Advisory Panel; what the date of appointment was of each; and what  (a) remuneration and  (b) expenses each has claimed.

John Healey: Members of the independent Third Sector Advisory panel are from the sector representing young volunteers, third sector umbrella bodies and different faith communities. Annex C of the interim report on the Review of the Future Role of the Third Sector in Social and Economic Regeneration published in December 2006 lists the panel members. The panel chaired by Maeve Sherlock (who does not hold any position in the Treasury) has been constituted for12 months as an ad hoc Government advisory panel. All current members were invited to join the group on a voluntary basis in September 2006. Members are not paid remuneration for attending meetings but all reasonable travel, accommodation and subsistence expenses are paid in line with Government guidance. To date, a total of £305 for travel has been claimed.

Freedom of Information

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to the answer of 24 January 2007,  Official Report, columns 1768-69W, on freedom of information, where the information that was released by his Department between March to December 2006 and not published on his Department's website is available elsewhere in the public domain.

David Cairns: Between March and December 2006 there were eight FoI releases published on the Scotland Office website. We publish all responses to requests where information is actually released but we do not publish our response to requests where we either do not hold the information, where it is available elsewhere in the public domain, or where the information is withheld because exemptions apply. The location of any relevant information held in the public domain, will depend on the nature of the request.

Social Enterprise

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if she will place copies in the Library of the research she has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on social enterprise.

Edward Miliband: The Government published the Social Enterprise Action Plan on 16 November 2006. Chapter 1 (Why Social Enterprise Matters) contains references to the key government research on social enterprise. A copy the plan is available in the Library for the reference of Members.
	I am arranging for the following key research and evaluation documents to be placed in the Library for the reference of Members.
	IFF Research (2005): A survey of social enterprise across the UK
	GHK (2005): Review of the Social Enterprise Strategy
	Annual Small Business Survey 2005 (published 2006)
	SBS Household Survey of Entrepreneurship 2005 (published 2006)
	Hull University has been commissioned to undertake a feasibility study developing a method for understanding the social and economic impact of social enterprise. In addition, the Office of the Third Sector, in partnership with the Department for Communities and Local Government, will soon be commissioning some short research papers to contribute to development of policy on social enterprise. I will write to the hon. Member when these have been completed.

A555

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has for completion of the A555 relief road; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: This scheme raises funding and affordability issues which have taken longer to resolve than anticipated. An announcement will be made once consideration of these issued has been completed.

Bus Services: West Midlands

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Government spent on bus services in the West Midlands in  (a) 2004,  (b) 2005 and  (c) 2006.

Gillian Merron: holding answer 31 January 2007
	The majority of support for local bus services is provided by local authorities using the Government's Revenue Support Grant (RSG), which is an unhypothecated block grant, and authorities' own resources. It is for each authority to decide how much of their RSG allocation to devote to bus support.
	The Department for Transport has also separately provided specific grant funding to local authorities for bus services through the Rural Bus Subsidy Grant (RBSG), the Rural and Urban Bus Challenge and the Kickstart schemes.
	The following tables show the amounts provided under these grants to authorities in the West Midlands Government Office Region from 2003-04 to 2005-06; the amounts within that total provided to West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority are also shown:
	
		
			  West Midlands GO region 
			   Total (£) 
			 2003-04 7,557,407 
			 2004-05 8,187,109 
			 2005-06 7,523,749 
			 Total 23,268,265 
		
	
	
		
			  West Midlands PTA area 
			   Total (£) 
			 2003-04 761,236 
			 2004-05 900,824 
			 2005-06 676,577 
			 Total 2,338,637 
		
	
	In addition, the Department pays Bus Service Operators Grant to operators of local bus services throughout the country but information on this expenditure is not collated on a geographical basis.
	Local transport authorities also receive Local Transport Plan funding from the Department for capital expenditure on bus infrastructure.

Aid: Overseas Education

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid hasbeen granted by the Government for educational programmes overseas in each year since 2003.

Gareth Thomas: holding answer 20 January 2007
	The following table details UK bilateral expenditure on programmes from 2002-03.
	
		
			  Gross public bilateral expenditure on education programmes 
			   £000 
			 2002-03 165,133 
			 2003-04 221,887 
			 2004-05 269,761 
			 2005-06 249,799 
		
	
	These figures exclude expenditure through multilateral organisations.

Commonwealth Education Fund

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much UK Government funding was allocated to educational facilities and activities in  (a) Kenya,  (b) Tanzania,  (c) Ghana and  (d) The Gambia by the Commonwealth Education Fund in each year since 1998.

Gareth Thomas: The Commonwealth Education Fund (CEF) commenced in 2002 as part of an initiative launched by the Chancellor. The UK Government as well as other donors, including non-governmental organisations, have contributed to the CEF since its launch.
	The following table shows the total funds allocated to educational facilities and activities in the four countries (figures provided by the CEF):
	
		
			  £ 
			   Kenya  Tanzania  Ghana  The Gambia 
			 2002 166,408 1,989 14,511 6,002 
			 2003 497,720 34,689 197,258 9,490 
			 2004 675,553 120,783 340,075 86,937 
			 2005 581,190 258,499 388,432 91,807 
			 2006(1) 686,651 484,036 356,654 147,703 
			 2007-08(1) 100,000 150,000 150,000 65,000 
			 Total 2,704,522 1,049,996 1,446,930 433,939 
			 (1) Estimated expenditure

Neonatal Care

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many neonatal cots in hospitals in the Province there were on 1 January  (a) 2002,  (b) 1997 and  (c) 1992.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  Trust  (a) 1 January 2002  (b) 1 January 1997  (c) 1 January 1992 
			 Altnagelvin Group 18 18 18 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group 14 14 14 
			 Newry and Mourne 6 6 6 
			 Sperrin Lakeland(1) 6 6 0 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals 31 21 21 
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals 12 12 12 
			 United Hospitals 16 16 10 
			 (1 )Neonatal unit opened in Sperrin Lakeland Trust in 1993.  Note: It has not been possible to confirm figures for Jubilee Maternity Hospital for 1997 or 1992.  Source: Health and Social Service Trusts

Asylum Seekers

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the implications are ofthe findings of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate pilot schemes at Dover port and Croydon piloting the use of social work intake teams in the asylum process for the resolution of disputes about the age of children seeking asylum.

Liam Byrne: Dedicated social work intake teams were introduced at Dover in 2003 and at the Asylum Screening Unit at Croydon in 2005. The main purpose of the teams is to provide specialist initial assessment and intake services, to improve the resolution of age dispute claims and to improve the identification of vulnerable children from abroad.
	Although no formal evaluation of these projects has been carried out, both Croydon and Kent local authorities and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate have reported that the teams have been successful in resolving age dispute issues and improving the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's child protection procedures.

Asylum Seekers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was claimed in benefits by failed asylum seekers in each of the last 12 months.

Liam Byrne: Costs relating to the provision of accommodation and subsistence payments for asylum seekers are not recorded according to their asylum status and is not available in the form requested.

Convicted Foreign Nationals: Deportation

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department has taken to ensure that anybody who is convicted of an imprisonable offence and who is a foreign national is deported.

Liam Byrne: The Director-General of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate wrote to the Home Affairs Committee on 12 December 2006 to provide an update on progress in the deportation of foreign national prisoners. In this letter the Director-General outlined that due consideration of deportation takes place in all new cases of foreign national prisoners before release, and that since April 2006, over 1600 foreign national prisoners had been deported or removed. A copy of this letter is available from the Library of the House and a further update will be provided to the Home Affairs Committee shortly.
	My right hon. Friend The Home Secretary has stated that changes will be made to the law to strengthen the link between deportation and criminality. The legislative proposals will be brought forward shortly in the forthcoming UK Borders Bill.

Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of22 December 2006, on compensation to an illegal immigrant.

Liam Byrne: I wrote to the hon. Member on 29 January 2007.

Crime Statistics: Somerset

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many violent crimes were committed in Somerset in each of the last 10 years, broken down by  (a) basic command unit area and  (b) local authority area.

Vernon Coaker: Information is provided in the table for Avon and Somerset Constabulary at Basic Command Unit (BCU) and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) levels.
	CDRPs were set up under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and are broadly local authority areas. Data for all crime at BCU and CDRP levels are only available from 2000-01.
	
		
			  Violent Crime—Avon and Somerset by Basic Command Unit 
			  BCU name  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 1,873 1,927 1,854 2,229 
			 Central Bristol 4,800 6,010 5,986 7,096 
			 North Bristol 3,194 2,770 2,774 3,305 
			 North Somerset 2,054 2,113 2,647 3,231 
			 Somerset East 2,323 2,760 3,098 4,090 
			 Somerset West 2,542 2,920 3,645 4,387 
			 South Bristol 2,375 2,981 3,311 3,959 
			 South Gloucester 2,484 2,189 2,498 2,657 
			  Note: From 2002-03, data not comparable with earlier years following the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standards(NCRS) in April 2002 
		
	
	
		
			  BCU name  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 2,961 3,146 
			 Bristol (1) 15,624 15,524 
			 North Somerset 4,005 3,592 
			 Somerset East 5,074 4,090 
			 Somerset West 4,580 3,781 
			 South Gloucester 3,370 3,932 
			 (1 )After April 2004  Note: Boundary changes in April 2004 
		
	
	
		
			  Violent Crime—Avon and Somerset by Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership 
			  CDRP name  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 1,873 1,927 1,854 2,229 2,961 3,146 
			 City of Bristol UA 10,369 11,761 12,071 14,360 15,624 15,524 
			 North Somerset 2,054 2,113 2,647 3,231 4,005 3,592 
			 Sedgemoor 971 1,122 1,365 1,826 1,909 1,636 
			 Somerset East—Mendip 1,020 996 1,289 1,684 2,016 1,585 
			 Somerset East—South Somerset 1,303 1,764 1,809 2,406 3,058 2,505 
			 South Gloucester 2,484 2,189 2,498 2,657 3,370 3,932 
			 Taunton Deane 1,185 1,339 1,752 2,036 2,173 1,760 
			 West Somerset 386 459 528 525 498 385 
			  Note: From 2002-03, data not comparable with earlier years following the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standards(NCRS) in April 2002

Crime Statistics: Somerset

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of  (a) car theft,  (b) theft from a motor vehicle,  (c) domestic burglary,  (d) burglary of all other premises and  (e) robbery there were in Somerset in each of the last10 years, broken down by (i) basic command unit area and (ii) local authority area.

Vernon Coaker: Information is provided in the table for Avon and Somerset Constabulary at Basic Command Unit (BCU) and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) levels.
	CDRPs were set up under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and are broadly local authority areas. Data for all crime at BCU and CDRP levels are only available from 2000-01.
	
		
			  Recorded crime—Avon and Somerset by Basic Command Unit 
			   Burglary in a dwelling  Burglary in other building  Robbery  Theft from vehicle  Theft or Unauthorised taking of motor vehicle 
			  2000-01  
			 Bath and North East Somerset 934 1,076 109 1,900 1,016 
			 Central Bristol 1,813 2,004 1,428 3,929 2,000 
			 North Bristol 2,489 1,735 334 3,062 1,784 
			 North Somerset 1,219 1,240 91 2,305 671 
			 Somerset East 1,232 1,833 217 2,347 917 
			 Somerset West 1,606 1,808 96 2,337 713 
			 South Bristol 1,829 1,508 316 3,284 1,949 
			 South Gloucester 1,274 2,205 174 2,754 1,380 
			   
			  2001-02  
			 Bath and North East Somerset 1,63 1,562 205 2,374 1,392 
			 Central Bristol 2,580 2,825 2,806 6,894 2,618 
			 North Bristol 3,298 2,211 759 3,992 2,122 
			 North Somerset 1,475 1,504 131 2,552 752 
			 Somerset East 1,427 2,416 107 3,294 938 
			 Somerset West 1,644 1,729 111 2,776 619 
			 South Bristol 2,560 1,891 509 4,006 2,325 
			 South Gloucester 1,448 2,732 261 2,722 1,415 
			   
			  2002-03  
			 Bath and North East Somerset 1,194 1,430 195 2,132 1,458 
			 Central Bristol 2,435 2,230 1,633 5,079 2,168 
			 North Bristol 2,674 1,743 439 2,935 1,938 
			 North Somerset 1,224 1,449 155 2,189 772 
			 Somerset East 1,737 2,449 186 3,151 1,106 
			 Somerset West 1,579 1,824 107 2,327 794 
			 South Bristol 2,245 2,558 481 3,802 2,125 
			 South Gloucester 1,473 1,938 308 2,651 1,622 
			   
			  2003-04  
			 Bath and North East Somerset 921 1,083 135 1945 948 
			 Central Bristol 1,965 2,063 1,263 4,383 1,546 
			 North Bristol 1,785 1,372 477 2,638 1,499 
			 North Somerset 1,046 1,209 156 1,738 633 
			 Somerset East 1,051 1,905 112 1,993 863 
			 Somerset West 1,047 1,705 103 1,810 706 
			 South Bristol 1,950 2,185 467 3,574 1,459 
			 South Gloucester 1,201 2,076 195 2,222 1,051 
			   
			  2004-05  
			 Bath and North East Somerset 686 1,128 93 1,304 588 
			 Bristol (after April 2004) 5,252 4,980 1,726 9,041 3,756 
			 North Somerset 842 1,029 95 1,377 572 
			 Somerset East 847 1,678 75 1,659 639 
			 Somerset West 783 1,467 88 1,819 613 
			 South Gloucester 1,176 1,628 160 1,736 902 
			   
			  2005-06  
			 Bath and North East Somerset 500 924 114 1,107 613 
			 Bristol (1) 4,324 4,579 1,531 9,083 3,395 
			 North Somerset 744 1,021 90 1,392 471 
			 Somerset East 645 1,423 59 1,233 561 
			 Somerset West 727 1,416 74 1,361 464 
			 South Gloucester 903 1,606 168 1,453 776 
			 (1 )After April 2004  Notes: 1. From 2002-03, data not comparable with earlier years following the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standards(NCRS) in April 2002. 2. Boundary changes April 2004. 
		
	
	
		
			  Recorded crime—Avon and Somerset by Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership 
			   Burglary in a dwelling  Burglary in other building  Robbery  Theft from vehicle  Theft or unauthorised taking of motor vehicle 
			  2000-01  
			 Bath and North East Somerset 934 1,076 109 1,900 1,016 
			 City of Bristol UA 6,131 5,247 2,078 10,275 5,733 
			 North Somerset 1,219 1,240 91 2,305 671 
			 Sedgemoor 825 925 34 1,033 342 
			 Somerset East—Mendip 527 572 181 843 387 
			 Somerset East—South Somerset 705 1,261 36 1,504 530 
			 South Gloucester 1,274 2,205 174 2,754 1,380 
			 Taunton Deane 589 676 49 1,105 304 
			 West Somerset 192 207 13 199 67 
			   
			  2001-02  
			 Bath and North East Somerset 1,563 1,562 205 2,374 1,392 
			 City of Bristol UA 8,438 6,927 4,074 14,892 7,065 
			 North Somerset 1,475 1,504 131 2,552 752 
			 Sedgemoor 731 773 46 1,165 327 
			 Somerset East—Mendip 580 852 25 1,079 304 
			 Somerset East—South Somerset 847 1,564 82 2,215 634 
			 South Gloucester 1,448 2,732 261 2,722 1,415 
			 Taunton Deane 694 772 54 1,398 210 
			 West Somerset 219 184 11 213 82 
			   
			  2002-03  
			 Bath and North East Somerset 1,194 1,430 195 2,132 1,458 
			 City of Bristol UA 7,354 6,531 2,553 11,816 6,231 
			 North Somerset 1,224 1,449 155 2,189 772 
			 Sedgemoor 734 924 47 1,068 393 
			 Somerset East—Mendip 548 962 117 1,459 484 
			 Somerset East—South Somerset 1,189 1,487 69 1,692 622 
			 South Gloucester 1,473 1,938 308 2,651 1,622 
			 Taunton Deane 636 725 55 1,083 318 
			 West Somerset 209 175 5 176 83 
			   
			  2003-04  
			 Bath and North East Somerset 921 1,083 135 1,945 948 
			 City of Bristol UA 5,700 5,620 2,207 10,595 4,504 
			 North Somerset 1,046 1,209 156 1,738 633 
			 Sedgemoor 440 704 38 758 355 
			 Somerset East—Mendip 440 749 57 765 400 
			 Somerset East—South Somerset 611 1,156 55 1,228 463 
			 South Gloucester 1,201 2,076 195 2,222 1,051 
			 Taunton Deane 475 704 54 849 286 
			 West Somerset 132 297 11 203 65 
			   
			  2004-05  
			 Bath and North East Somerset 686 1,128 93 1,304 588 
			 City of Bristol UA 5,252 4,980 1,726 9,041 3,756 
			 North Somerset 842 1,029 95 1,377 572 
			 Sedgemoor 377 680 36 796 319 
			 Somerset East—Mendip 316 727 25 691 272 
			 Somerset East—South Somerset 531 951 50 968 367 
			 South Gloucester 1,176 1,628 160 1,736 902 
			 Taunton Deane 313 552 45 890 248 
			 West Somerset 93 235 7 133 46 
			   
			  2005-06  
			 Bath and North East Somerset 500 924 114 1,107 613 
			 City of Bristol UA 4,324 4,579 1,531 9,083 3,395 
			 North Somerset 744 1,021 90 1,392 471 
			 Sedgemoor 346 608 40 586 242 
			 Somerset East—Mendip 234 576 22 499 230 
			 Somerset East—South Somerset 411 847 37 734 331 
			 South Gloucester 903 1,606 168 1,453 776 
			 Taunton Deane 292 588 31 630 181 
			 West Somerset 89 220 3 145 41 
			  Note: From 2002-03, data not comparable with earlier years following the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standards(NCRS) in April 2002

Crime: Somerset

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recorded crimes there were in Somerset in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority area.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 1 February 2007
	Information is provided in the table for Avon and Somerset constabulary at crime and disorder reduction partnership (CDRP) level.
	CDRPs were set up under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and are broadly local authority areas. Data for all crime at this level are only available from 2000-01.
	
		
			  Recorded crime—Avon and Somerset crime and disorder reduction partnerships 
			   2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 13,534 17,591 16,771 15,148 14,850 14,430 
			 City of Bristol UA 64,518 83,567 76,765 74,236 71,169 70,793 
			 North Somerset 14,163 15,845 16,503 16,086 16,596 15,978 
			 Sedgemoor 8,094 8,578 8,884 8,513 8,628 7,528 
			 Somerset East—Mendip 8,186 6,993 9,454 8,518 8,148 6,873 
			 Somerset East—South Somerset 9,791 12,939 12,843 11,674 11,991 10,029 
			 South Gloucester 18,093 20,171 20,421 19,007 18,472 19,270 
			 Taunton Deane 8,311 9,066 9,663 9,166 9,097 7,816 
			 West Somerset 2,297 2,446 2,562 2,595 2,259 2,159 
			  Note: From 2002-03, data not comparable with earlier years following the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standards(NCRS) in April 2002

Dispersal Orders

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dispersal orders have been authorised in each month since April 2006.

John Reid: Data on dispersal authorisations since April 2006 is not yet available.

Dispersal Orders

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) individuals have been dispersed and  (b) under 16 year-olds have been removed to their home in each month since April 2006.

John Reid: Data on the number of individuals dispersed and how many under 16's have been removed to their home address since April 2006 is not yet available.

Hit and Run

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hit and run incidents were reported in each of the last five years; in how many of the cases  (a) the driver was subsequently identified and  (b) a prosecution for failing to stop at the scene of an accident was brought; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Information on the number of hit and run incidents that have led to court proceedings is not collected centrally.
	Available information taken from the Court Proceedings Database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform and given in the table shows the number of prosecutions for the offence of 'failing to stop after an accident' under the Road Traffic Act 1988 s. 170 (4) from 2000 to 2004 (latest available). The data do not distinguish between those offences which resulted in injury from those which resulted in damage or both.
	2005 data will be available later this year.
	
		
			  Proceedings at magistrates courts for accident offences( 1) , England and Wales, 2000-2004 
			   Number of offences 
			 2000 26,692 
			 2001 27,769 
			 2002 28,067 
			 2003 28,871 
			 2004 27,078 
			 (1 )Aiding, abetting, causing or permitting accident offences under the RTA88 s. 170(4).  Notes: 1. It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular those relating to summary motoring offences, may be less than complete. Work is under way to ensure that the magistrates courts case management system currently being implemented by the Department for Constitutional Affairs reports all motoring offences to the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. This will enable more complete figures to be disseminated. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when these data are used.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate were employed in the assessment of asylum claims in each of the last 12 weeks.

Liam Byrne: Internal management information indicates that the number of full-time equivalent staff employed in the assessment of asylum claims in each of the last 12 weeks was as shown in the table.
	The numbers quoted include those contributing to the initial decision making process plus those dealing with follow-up work.
	
		
			  Week  Number of FTE staff( 1) 
			 30 October 2006 247 
			 6 November 2006 245 
			 13 November 2006 243 
			 20 November 2006 243 
			 27 November 2006 237 
			 4 December 2006 236 
			 11 December 2006 238 
			 18 December 2006 279 
			 25 December 2006 278 
			 1 January 2007 274 
			 8 January 2007 271 
			 15 January 2007 268 
			 (1) Rounded up to the nearest whole number.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the backlog was of service complaints against the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Accurate figures cannot be provided because data is not held centrally but on various databases across IND. To extract the information from all of the different databases across IND and collate would incur a disproportionate cost.
	This will be one of the issues addressed within the complaints change programme which will overhaul IND's complaints processes in line with Cabinet Office guidance and the recommendations of the Complaints Audit Committee. The complaints change programme has already been launched and the necessary changes will happen over the next 15 months.
	As part of this programme, a new single database will be set up to capture and monitor all complaints across IND and to provide accurate and readily accessible information.

Mentally Disordered Offenders

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what definition he uses of a mentally disordered offender.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Mentally disordered offender is not a term with any statutory meaning, but the Home Office uses it to denote anyone convicted of an offence (or disposed of by the court following a finding under the Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964) and then dealt with under powers in Part III of the Mental HealthAct 1983.
	Clause 29 of The UK Borders Bill, introduced on26 January, creates a number of exceptions to the automatic deportation procedure for foreign criminals. One of these, Exception 5, is where certain provisions of the Mental Health Act 1983 or corresponding legislation in Scotland or Northern Ireland apply (the foreign criminal is a "mentally disordered offender"). This is because we think it is right that full consideration is given on a case by case basis to the complex issues surrounding the deportation of people falling within this category rather than deportation being automatic.

Police

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) full-time, fully trained police officers and  (b) police community support officers Norfolk constabulary had in each of the last 10 years.

Tony McNulty: The available data are given in the tables.
	
		
			  Police officer strength( 1)  (FTE)( 2)  by police force as at 31 March 1997 to 31 March 2006 
			  Norfolk police force  Full-time equivalent 
			 31 March 1997 1,432 
			 31 March 1998 1,430 
			 31 March 1999 1,381 
			 31 March 2000 1,381 
			 31 March 2001 1,420 
			 31 March 2002 1,468 
			 31 March 2003 1,499 
			 31 March 2004 1,510 
			 31 March 2005 1,544 
			 31 March 2006 1,557 
			 (1) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. (2) Full-time equivalent excludes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. 
		
	
	
		
			  Police community support officer strength( 1 ) (FTE)( 2)  by police force as at 31 March 2003 to 31 March 2006( 3) 
			  Norfolk police force  Full-time equivalent 
			 31 March 2003 12 
			 31 March 2004 33 
			 31 March 2005(4) 68 
			 31 March 2006(4) 65 
			 (1) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. (2) Full-time equivalent includes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. (3) Police community support officers were introduced in statute in 2002, therefore data are not available prior to 2002-03. (4) Strength figures as at 31 March 2005 onwards include those staff on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. Therefore these figures are not comparable with those provided for other years in the table.

Police Community Support Officers

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) police community support officers and  (b) police officers were recruited to West Lancashire police force in each year since 2002.

Tony McNulty: The available data for Lancashire police force are given in the following table:
	
		
			  Police community support officer and police officer recruits to Lancashire police from 2002-03 to 2005-06( 1)  (FTE)( 2) 
			  Recruits  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 PCSOs 94 7 66 56 
			 Police Officers 224(3) 332(4) 160(4) 209(4) 
			 (1) Financial year runs 1 April to 31 March. (2) Full-time Equivalent. This figure includes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. (3) Not comparable with later years; data includes transfers from other England and Wales forces and officers returning after a period of secondment (4) Data includes transfers from other England and Wales forces but does not include officers returning after a period of secondment.

Police: West Midlands

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when he expects the 101 programme to be implemented in the West Midlands police area;
	(2)  how much has been spent on publicising the 101 programme since its introduction;
	(3)  how many calls were handled by the five local authorities participating in the 101 programme in 2006.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 1 February 2007
	Evaluation and assessment of the introduction of the single non-emergency number, 101, in the five Wave 1 Police and Local Authority Partnership areas are currently ongoing. Plans for further programme development beyond Wave 1 Partnership areas has been deferred pending the outcome of this evaluation and assessment to be completed in autumn 2007.
	The 101 service was introduced between May and September 2006 in the five Wave 1 Partnership areas involving 30 local authorities and five police forces covering approximately 10 per cent. of the population of England and Wales. £1.3 million was spent on publicising the new service locally across these areas and informing the public how it should be used.
	Since this introduction until the end of December 2006, 101 call advisers have handled more than a quarter of a million (277,272) calls from the public in their local areas with high levels of customer satisfaction and positive feedback on the service received.

Probation Service

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many full-time equivalent probation officers were employed in each probation area in each of the last 10 years.

John Reid: Information is not available for the full period requested. Data collected prior to 1 April 2003 is not directly comparable with the more accurate figures collected since that time. The figures presented show full-time equivalent (FTE) figures at the close of each quarter from 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2006.
	In addition, the information required to break down the number of Probation Officers in post by area in quarter 1 2003-04 is no longer held. As a result, only the total figure has been provided for this period.
	
		
			  Probation officers in post by area 
			   2003-04 
			   Quarter 1  Quarter 2  Quarter 3  Quarter 4 
			 Avon and Somerset — 96.40 112.90 110.40 
			 Bedfordshire — 57.30 61.10 62.60 
			 Cambridgeshire — 75.50 85.35 75.97 
			 Cheshire — 116.10 112.30 114.30 
			 Cumbria — 59.90 59.90 56.30 
			 Derbyshire — 117.60 106.70 102.70 
			 Devon and Cornwall — 136.80 149.35 146.30 
			 Dorset — 63.00 68.00 63.10 
			 Durham — 72.00 86.50 87.50 
			 Dyfed Powys — 46.70 46.30 43.70 
			 Essex — 106.00 111.20 117.50 
			 Gloucestershire — 52.30 56.40 55.40 
			 Gwent — 69.10 68.10 69.20 
			 Hampshire — 155.90 173.59 178.60 
			 Hertfordshire — 63.70 65.90 71.99 
			 Humberside — 121.78 139.78 138.78 
			 Kent — 138.35 148.55 154.95 
			 Lancashire — 243.20 243.60 246.10 
			 Leicestershire — 126.00 125.00 130.70 
			 Lincolnshire — 64.20 61.60 60.60 
			 London — 795.70 840.50 862.50 
			 Greater Manchester — 414.70 399.80 387.58 
			 Merseyside — 243.90 241.50 238.44 
			 Norfolk — 72.68 76.88 84.18 
			 North Yorkshire — 66.20 75.80 75.60 
			 North Wales — 58.70 67.10 67.50 
			 Northamptonshire — 69.00 65.00 63.00 
			 Northumbria — 223.30 252.26 253.10 
			 Nottinghamshire — 166.00 171.50 160.90 
			 South Wales — 155.60 157.60 172.30 
			 South Yorkshire — 183.50 203.00 202.40 
			 Staffordshire — 148.70 147.10 146.20 
			 Suffolk — 82.25 81.75 85.15 
			 Surrey — 56.70 63.90 66.55 
			 Sussex — 121.20 123.30 126.60 
			 Teesside — 64.60 76.60 74.85 
			 Thames Valley — 163.00 176.70 182.00 
			 Warwickshire — 55.00 55.00 53.21 
			 West Mercia — 123.31 125.46 125.90 
			 West Midlands — 374.50 429.20 406.82 
			 West Yorkshire — 275.57 310.48 313.86 
			 Wiltshire — 41.90 48.90 50.10 
			 Total 5,831.10 5,937.84 6,271.45 6,285.43 
		
	
	
		
			   2004-05 
			   Quarter 1  Quarter 2  Quarter3  Quarter 4 
			 Avon and Somerset 151.90 148.10 153.70 153.30 
			 Bedfordshire 56.40 58.00 61.00 66.00 
			 Cambridgeshire 74.90 75.60 78.27 76.27 
			 Cheshire 109.60 113.80 113.90 114.65 
			 Cumbria 53.60 52.90 57.50 58.00 
			 Derbyshire 112.90 125.60 109.20 107.50 
			 Devon and Cornwall 141.76 141.60 149.10 150.30 
			 Dorset 60.86 62.56 66.79 70.29 
			 Durham 87.50 89.50 96.70 95.83 
			 Dyfed Powys 43.20 42.70 49.10 46.70 
			 Essex 116.80 112.90 120.11 120.20 
			 Gloucestershire 55.40 54.99 59.69 59.19 
			 Gwent 65.60 65.10 67.30 65.30 
			 Hampshire 175.90 168.50 190.40 188.90 
			 Hertfordshire 71.99 72.70 71.70 75.10 
			 Humberside 135.39 131.89 147.91 147.68 
			 Kent 152.15 144.40 146.20 145.53 
			 Lancashire 243.50 237.10 253.20 250.40 
			 Leicestershire 134.20 140.80 138.20 134.70 
			 Lincolnshire 57.60 64.00 63.60 64.40 
			 London 864.80 874.60 835.41 834.54 
			 Greater Manchester 370.20 373.20 404.40 406.26 
			 Merseyside 242.03 237.43 268.43 267.24 
			 Norfolk 80.88 77.68 79.85 82.60 
			 North Yorkshire 78.30 75.20 88.60 93.60 
			 North Wales 71.80 72.80 84.20 83.20 
			 Northamptonshire 59.00 65.00 66.63 72.54 
			 Northumbria 251.80 274.06 267.95 263.76 
			 Nottinghamshire 156.18 168.02 166.11 165.91 
			 South Wales 169.60 169.70 195.90 191.48 
			 South Yorkshire 196.80 195.50 212.70 208.10 
			 Staffordshire 148.40 156.40 152.30 152.70 
			 Suffolk 82.25 82.80 83.00 83.40 
			 Surrey 62.50 62.10 68.30 66.67 
			 Sussex 128.41 127.79 128.74 128.84 
			 Teesside 74.35 84.85 87.65 87.24 
			 Thames Valley 175.00 169.30 176.40 175.80 
			 Warwickshire 52.80 55.15 51.33 52.93 
			 West Mercia 121.84 142.58 141.30 138.10 
			 West Midlands 403.97 447.50 444.50 446.30 
			 West Yorkshire 321.16 320.58 343.37 331.88 
			 Wiltshire 44.10 41.50 44.30 43.30 
			 Total 6,257.32 6,376.48 6,584.94 6,566.63 
		
	
	
		
			   2005-06 
			   Quarter 1  Quarter 2  Quarter3  Quarter 4 
			 Avon and Somerset 154.40 158.80 166.20 174.20 
			 Bedfordshire 65.00 63.00 65.30 65.40 
			 Cambridgeshire 73.70 77.07 79.30 76.77 
			 Cheshire 121.00 134.00 124.30 118.21 
			 Cumbria 59.20 56.80 63.30 62.00 
			 Derbyshire 108.50 117.00 119.50 118.10 
			 Devon and Cornwall 151.10 148.50 165.40 151.60 
			 Dorset 67.64 67.43 75.60 70.96 
			 Durham 91.50 86.70 99.50 96.90 
			 Dyfed Powys 48.10 55.10 55.70 45.30 
			 Essex 115.00 111.30 120.80 124.40 
			 Gloucestershire 55.76 54.76 59.80 50.99 
			 Gwent 52.10 63.10 65.30 88.10 
			 Hampshire 179.90 180.70 197.40 185.30 
			 Hertfordshire 71.10 70.20 73.20 65.40 
			 Humberside 146.91 145.01 161.80 161.29 
			 Kent 142.13 132.34 154.10 147.80 
			 Lancashire 241.10 238.70 253.70 254.22 
			 Leicestershire 136.10 152.50 153.20 141.10 
			 Lincolnshire 63.10 70.50 67.10 63.50 
			 London 820.07 829.74 821.40 797.30 
			 Greater Manchester 402.21 385.81 385.80 486.09 
			 Merseyside 264.24 262.20 281.20 285.15 
			 Norfolk 80.16 79.89 86.40 83.97 
			 North Yorkshire 88.60 79.50 89.60 86.09 
			 North Wales 83.70 89.10 87.30 86.40 
			 Northamptonshire 70.99 69.91 68.30 81.60 
			 Northumbria 259.16 257.20 283.30 257.75 
			 Nottinghamshire 161.01 155.60 168.20 167.60 
			 South Wales 188.50 213.20 215.10 196.10 
			 South Yorkshire 203.90 203.80 226.80 212.60 
			 Staffordshire 151.60 165.10 160.60 151.80 
			 Suffolk 83.58 80.96 86.10 84.49 
			 Surrey 69.85 68.75 70.00 72.50 
			 Sussex 129.70 126.51 147.10 136.63 
			 Teesside 95.90 95.00 104.10 99.40 
			 Thames Valley 164.00 171.40 180.20 170.30 
			 Warwickshire 54.06 60.77 59.30 50.66 
			 West Mercia 137.10 150.10 144.50 150.00 
			 West Midlands 443.50 441.50 493.50 470.10 
			 West Yorkshire 335.37 320.56 361.00 349.26 
			 Wiltshire 39.30 39.30 54.20 56.20 
			 Total 6,469.84 6,529.41 6,894.50 6,793.53

Yarl's Wood

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what  (a) educational support,  (b) counselling and  (c) opportunities for sport are available to young children detained at Yarl's Wood.

Gerry Sutcliffe: A creche is available for under 5's and is open seven days per week. Schooling is provided for children aged 5 to 16 years Monday to Friday. Activity classes are laid on in the sports hall each day and there is also an outside playground and sports courts. There is a youth worker and a youth club which opens seven days per week. A counsellor and a social worker are on site Monday to Friday as well as a full time Children's Service Manager.

Bovine Tuberculosis

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many animals have been subject to pre-movement testing for tuberculosis since it was introduced; and how many of those animals tested produced  (a) a positive reaction and  (b) inconclusive results in each county.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Number 
			  County  Specific pre-movement animal tests carried out between 23 September 2005 and 23 January 2007  Reactors found  Inconclusive reactors found 
			 Suffolk 5 0 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 0 0 0 
			 Norfolk 0 0 0 
			 Cumbria 13,540 2 8 
			 Bedfordshire 0 0 0 
			 Essex 0 0 0 
			 Hertfordshire 0 0 0 
			 Greater London (East) 0 0 0 
			 Devon 37,007 109 166 
			 Avon 6,554 9 16 
			 Gloucestershire 6,876 40 24 
			 Wiltshire 8,431 10 39 
			 North Yorkshire 72 0 0 
			 South Yorkshire 0 0 0 
			 West Yorkshire 0 0 0 
			 Leicestershire 2,338 6 2 
			 Northamptonshire 1,632 0 4 
			 Warwickshire 1,110 1 3 
			 West Midlands 156 0 0 
			 Humberside 52 0 0 
			 Lincolnshire 7 0 0 
			 Nottinghamshire 97 0 0 
			 Durham 1 0 0 
			 Northumberland 2,494 1 3 
			 Tyne and Wear 0 0 0 
			 Cleveland 0 0 0 
			 Greater Manchester 330 0 5 
			 Lancashire 1,910 0 2 
			 Merseyside 137 0 0 
			 Berkshire 261 0 2 
			 Buckinghamshire 518 0 1 
			 Hampshire 100 0 0 
			 Oxfordshire 508 0 0 
			 Isle of Wight 0 0 0 
			 East Sussex 913 2 2 
			 Kent 160 0 0 
			 West Sussex 5 0 0 
			 Surrey 0 0 0 
			 Greater London (South) 0 0 0 
			 Cheshire 10,431 4 8 
			 Derbyshire 10,015 10 6 
			 Staffordshire 26,576 11 21 
			 Dorset 8,179 4 25 
			 Somerset 13,798 16 38 
			 Cornwall 20,383 35 48 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0 0 
			 Hereford and Worcester 7,808 20 44 
			 Shropshire 13,109 15 10 
			 Total 195,513 295 477 
		
	
	Herd owners can utilise their routine tuberculosis surveillance tests paid for by the Government as pre-movement tests if animals are moved within 60 days after that test.

EU Waste Incineration Directive

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions were held by  (a) officials from his Department and its predecessors and  (b) Environment Agency officials with (i) EU Commission officials and (ii) outside bodies in connection with the adoption of the EU Waste Incineration Directive prior to the adoption of the directive on 4 December 2000.

Ben Bradshaw: Since the European Commission's initial soundings on its first working paper in February 1994, officials from the former Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) consulted fully, and at all stages, officials from the former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, other interested Government departments and agencies on the negotiation of the Waste Incineration Directive (WID).
	The Environment Agency was established by the 1995 Environment Act and became fully operational on 1 April 1996.
	The implementation of the WID was discussed by officials at an EU level and copies of the proposed Directive and cost-benefit analyses commissioned by the DETR were distributed for comment to a rangeof other bodies, including trade representative organisations and associations. Trade representative organisations were also invited to meetings with DETR officials in April 1994, September 1997 and October 1998 to discuss the proposed directive.

Recycling

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what action he is taking with retail operators to encourage the recycling of plastic carrier bags;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to encourage greater use of biodegradable and recyclable materials in the use of carrier bags for supermarkets.

Ben Bradshaw: The Environment Agency is currently carrying out a study considering the environmental impacts of a range of carrier bags, including disposable plastic carrier bags and biodegradable alternatives. The study will look at their entire life-cycle (from raw material extraction through to product manufacture, use and final disposal) and is due to report by the end of March this year. The evidence so far suggests there would be no benefit in reducing the number of plastic bags in use if this encourages the use of alternative packaging or materials which are even more environmentally damaging.
	The National Non-Food Crops Centre has also started work on life cycle analysis comparison of plastic, oxodegradable and biodegradable bags. Again, this will be available by March 2007. They have established a thematic working group on biopolymers which aims to promote and facilitate the expansion of this sector. Biopolymers are derived from renewable sources and can be used in a range of products, including bags, which helps to develop a sustainable supply chain.
	On 12 October last year, the Scottish Minister, Ross Finnie, and I jointly chaired a meeting with major UK retailers, to discuss a proposed voluntary code of practice on reducing the use of paper and plastic carrier bags. Defra is working closely with the devolved administrations, the Waste Resources Action Programme, the British Retail Consortium, retailers and the plastics industryto develop a voluntary approach for reducing the environmental impact of carrier bags. This is looking at ways of encouraging consumers to 'reduce, reuse and recycle' carrier bags. We intend to announce a programme of joint activity shortly.
	In addition, the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2005 require that 60 per cent. of packaging is recovered by 2008 and that a minimum of 55 per cent. is recycled. The regulations have succeeded so far in raising the recycling rate in the UK for packaging waste from around 27 per cent. in 1997 to 54.4 per cent. in 2005.

Recycling

Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the sustainability of markets for recycled materials.

Ben Bradshaw: Rising energy costs are encouraging industry to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and consider greater use of recycled materials, especially in the glass and plastic sectors. This, and a range of other factors such as Government interventions, have caused a period of unprecedented growth in recycling.
	We can expect recycling to increase further, and it will be important to continue to progress market development (the development of sustainable markets for recycled materials) in the UK. Defra's Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has been established with this role. WRAP's work is focusing on materials where barriers need to be tackled to improve the sustainability of the markets concerned. These include paper, plastics, glass, wood and compost.
	Broadly, challenges in these and other markets include:
	(i) developing alternative markets for recycled materialand improving standards, specifications and procurement arrangements (particularly in the case of paper, plastics, wood and compost);
	(ii) improving reprocessing capacity (particularly for plastics, wood and compost);
	(iii) addressing quality sourcing problems (particularly in the case of paper, glass, wood and compost); and
	(iv) improving collection infrastructure (especially for plastics, wood and compost).
	The current WRAP business plan outlines how these market development challenges are being addressed.
	WRAP has also started to produce public market situation reports for key recyclable materials. The first of these, on-glass, was published in January 2007. This identified that a particular challenge for glass market development will be increasing the quantity of high quality colour-separated cullet. WRAP plans that a report on paper will follow in spring 2007 and another on plastic in summer 2007.

Seas and Oceans: Bournemouth

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the change in average sea levels in the Bournemouth area has been over the last 25 years; and what change is forecasted over the next 25 years.

Ian Pearson: It is difficult to give a precise estimate of past sea level rise at specific locations because of the relative short length of most tide gauge records and the significant inter-annual variation, including a 19 year lunar cycle. However, it is generally accepted that sea levels along the south coast have been rising by between 1 and 2 mm per year over recent decades.
	Defra published revised guidance for operating authorities on future rates of sea level rise to be taken into account in flood and coastal erosion risk management decisions in November 2006. This recommended that, including the effects of vertical land movement in the south west, an allowance of 3.5 mm rise per year should be made from the baseline of nominal 1990 levels to 2025 (that is, that levels in 2025 could be 122.5 mm higher than in 1990).
	From 2025 to 2050, it is recommended that an8.0 mm rise per year is assumed, to give a total rise of 178.5 mm by 2032, relative to 1990 levels. These arenot predictions but are intended to be reasonably precautionary working allowances. The assumptions and qualifications on which these recommendations are based are included in the guidance which is published on the Defra website.

Seas and Oceans: Bournemouth

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans there are to improve sea defences at Hengistbury Head in Bournemouth.

Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Member to theanswer given on 22 November 2006,  Official Report, column 135W.